Blue Devil Country

Jayson Tatum Has Some Advice for Duke Basketball Phenom Cooper Flagg

The projected No. 1 overall draft pick must continue to embrace and build on his time as a Duke basketball rookie.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

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Duke Blue Devils

After averaging 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks last week to help extend the Duke basketball winning streak to 12 games, the program's longest since its 2014-15 national championship campaign, headlining Duke basketball freshman guard/forward Cooper Flagg became a seventh-time ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday.

ALSO READ: Duke May Be in Three-Team Race for Top Undecided Prospect

That made seven of 11 and four of the past five. And consider several came before the Maine native's 18th birthday a month ago.

The sky is the limit when it comes to what Cooper Flagg could accomplish in his career. But in the words of Jayson Tatum, a 2016-17 Duke basketball one-and-done who became a No. 3 overall draft pick and eventually a Boston Celtics championship centerpiece last season, Flagg should stay grounded to "stay present" and "enjoy the moment" as a Blue Devil.

"You're so close to reaching your ultimate dream, which is to play in the NBA, right?" Tatum said about Flagg while chatting with Celtics assistant and Duke basketball alum Amile Jefferson on the latest episode of The Brotherhood Podcast. "You feel like, I'm only 10 months away — like, I can smell it. The NBA's not going nowhere. It's gonna be there. He's gonna get drafted. He's gonna do amazing things.

"Once you leave college, you leave. Like, those moments, you won't ever get back. Playing in Cameron Indoor Stadium, going to Chapel Hill, going on the road with your teammates and playing in Miami, or whatever it is, you know, those moments are priceless. And as soon as I left Duke, like, I really missed it....

"Enjoy the moment, stay present, because it does go by fast, and you'll never be able to get that time back."

With only 13 regular season games remaining, Cooper Flagg and the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils (16-2, 8-0 ACC) are now preparing for a road battle against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (15-4, 7-1 ACC) at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN).

ALSO READ: NBA Champ Foresaw Jon Scheyer Becoming Duke Head Coach

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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